No. 35. — 1887.] notes on jItakas. 



193 



from the time of Asoka to the age of the Guptas, or perhaps even 

 later. These ethnic coins, General Cunningham remarks, and especi- 

 ally those of the Ma#himikaya, are the highest triumph of Indian 

 numismatics. 



Max Muller. 



The Bhaehut Sculptures.* 



38, Clanricarde Gardens, November 23, 1874. 



I am glad that Dr. Max Muller has drawn attention to the text of 

 the Bharhut inscriptions, and I think it is clear that in some instances 

 General Cunningham's readings require revision. Thus at page 111 of 

 the Proceedings we have a Yaksha whose name is read as " Suviloma," a 

 word which occurs neither in Sanskrit nor in Pali ; but if we alter it to 

 "Suchiloma," we obtain aproper name well known in Sanskrit literature, 

 and which, moreover, belongs to a Yaksha mentioned in the Buddhist 

 scriptures. In Sir M. Coomara Swamy's newly-published Sutta Nipata, 

 an important contribution to Buddhist literature, will be found 

 (p. 75) the translation of a sutra which takes its name from the Yaksha 

 Suchiloma, to whom, in answer to a question, Gautama Buddha recites 

 three religious verses. Though it is not so stated, we may fairly con- 

 clude that the Yaksha became a convert to Buddhism, and thus 

 obtained a niche in the Bharhut temple of fame. 



Again, at page 115, General Cunningham reads an inscription as Era- 

 pdto ndgardja Bhagavato vandate, and translates it " Erapatra the Naga 

 Raja worships Buddha." This rendering is quite inadmissible, first 

 because Bhagavato is a genitive, while vandate governs an accusative ; 

 and secondly, because the Bo tree which the Naga king is worshipping 

 can by no possibility be called " Bhagavat," which is the usual designation 

 of a Buddha. All becomes easy if we supply the word bodhim, which 

 has doubtless either become effaced or escaped General Cunningham's 

 notice, and read Bhagavato bodhim vandate, 11 worships the Buddha's 

 Bo tree." I have before me a photograph of this bas-relief. It is 

 executed with great spirit, and is of singular interest, as it gives us 

 what is probably a faithful representation of the famous tree at 

 Buddhagaya, an off-shoot of which still flourishes in Ceylon. 



I must say that I do not share Dr, Max Muller's scepticism with 

 regard to the important Jetavana inscription. With two or three 

 trifling emendations it reads as follows : — Jetavanam Andthapmddho 

 defo hotisanthatena Tcetd. " Anathapindika presents Jetavana, having 

 become its purchaser for a layer of kotfis." I have not the photograph 

 before me, but I suppose it represents both scenes, the purchase of the 

 ground and the gift of the monastery. The only serious difficulty of 

 the inscription is the presence of the letter e in the second word. But 



Academy, November 28, 1874, p. 586. 



